Chapter 25: Searching the Back Mountain to Find the Boy!

Upon hearing the news, Wen Jing’s expression changed drastically. These days were approaching the end of the month, a time when the curse could strike at any moment. Although they had found someone who could potentially break the curse, they still didn’t know if it would work for his nephew.

“Elder Brother, immediately arrange for everyone to go search. Everyone, have Da Sao and Er Sao borrow some people from the other noble families who are here for the Dharma talk today. We’ll send people to thank them later,” Wen Jing instructed with a clear and composed tone. After giving these orders to his elder brother, he quickly turned and went back to the Wise Master, asking him if his disciples could help with the search.

After Wen Da Fu Ren and Wen Er Fu Ren borrowed some people from familiar noblewomen, they joined the search for Wen Yu. No one could dissuade them, as Wen Da Fu Ren was too worried. Understanding her sister-in-law’s emotions, Wen Er Fu Ren quietly stayed by her side, comforting her as they searched.

“Sister-in-law, please take it easy. Yu Er will be fine.”

“Little sister, it’s my fault. If it weren’t for my illness, I would have already gone to bring Yu Er back. What if he falls sick? The Wise Master isn’t here, and it’s all my fault that Yu Er is missing.” Wen Da Fu Ren had long felt guilty about not being able to care for her son as she should have. This anxiety weighed on her constantly, and now, with the arrival of someone who could break the curse, she was about to lose her son just when hope seemed within reach.

“Sister-in-law, you need to pull yourself together. We’ll find Yu Er soon. Don’t cry, or Yu Er will be scared when he sees you like this,” Wen Er Fu Ren said, trying to stabilize her sister-in-law’s emotions.

“You’re right, little sister. I can’t collapse now. Yu Er is waiting for me to find him,” Wen Da Fu Ren wiped her tears, fortifying her resolve.

Seeing that her words had some effect, Wen Er Fu Ren offered a few more words of encouragement, then the two of them continued forward, asking everyone they encountered if they had seen a young boy around five or six years old.

Wen Zhi ordered his younger brother to go down the mountain and bring back reinforcements, and he stationed guards at all the entrances, ensuring no one could take Yu Er without anyone noticing.

The atmosphere at the Wise Master’s temple was tense, as the search for Wen Yu continued.

However, the back mountain of the temple remained peaceful and cheerful.

“Big sister, isn’t this place beautiful? When I miss my mother or home, I come here,” the little boy, Yu Er, was happily sharing his secret hideaway with Mu Rong Shu and Song Yan Ran.

“I’ve been here so many times, yet I never knew there was such a lovely place in the back mountain. Today, we’re really lucky to have discovered it thanks to you, Yu Er,” Song Yan Ran couldn’t help but marvel, impressed by Yu Er’s eye for beauty.

“Usually, Third Uncle teaches me a lot here!” Yu Er couldn’t stop talking about his Third Uncle, and now Song Yan Ran was really curious to meet this mysterious man.

“Yu Er, Yan Ran, how about we head back? We’ve been here too long, and soon my older brother and Ru Yan Jie will be worried,” Mu Rong Shu said, concerned that her older brother might be anxious by now.

“But where do you want to go? I know this place well. There are shortcuts we can take!” Upon hearing the two beautiful sisters were planning to search for someone, Yu Er eagerly volunteered to lead the way.

At first, Song Yan Ran was skeptical, but when Yu Er led them on a shortcut, she was stunned. After coming here so many times, she never realized there was such a faster way. It saved them quite a bit of time.

They arrived at the agreed-upon spot, but neither Mu Si Shu nor Liu Ru Yan were there. Mu Rong Shu asked uncertainly, “Yan Ran, are you sure you’re meeting Ru Yan Jie here?”

“Of course! Ru Yan and I have been coming here for years. Even if my cousin remembered the meeting point wrong, Ru Yan wouldn’t. They must have gotten caught up talking, so they’re running late,” Song Yan Ran was confident, explaining why they hadn’t arrived yet.

“Well, then, let’s just wait here. The time is still early,” Mu Rong Shu said, taking a seat on a nearby stone while holding Yu Er, signaling Song Yan Ran to join her.

Song Yan Ran wasn’t in a rush to go back, as she planned to leave with her cousin, not with her father. She knew her father would come to pick up her grandmother and mother.

Meanwhile, Mu Si Shu and Liu Ru Yan, who had been thought to be delayed, encountered Wen Jing and Wen Zhi on their way. The ever kind Mu Si Shu immediately joined the search for the missing child.

“Zi Yu, where else haven’t we searched? Let’s split up, I can move faster, and you can guide me,” Mu Si Shu said, knowing that Wen Jing’s health wasn’t good and Wen Zhi was a scholar. Having grown up in the military camp, he was agile and better suited for finding people quickly.

“Thank you, Young Master Mu Rong!” Wen Zhi expressed his gratitude, surprised by the normally quiet Mu Si Shu’s enthusiastic response.

“Brother Zi Yu, I suggest you check the northwest. My intuition tells me that Yu Er might be there,” Wen Jing said with a determined look.

“Don’t worry, Zi Yu. I’ll go right now. Ru Yan, you go to the agreed upon spot and find Shu Er and Yan Ran. Ask them to help with the search. The more people, the better,” Mu Si Shu instructed before heading off.

“Don’t worry, Brother Si Shu. I’ll go find Shu Er and Yan Ran right away,” Liu Ru Yan said, eager to help.

“Miss Liu, did Miss Mu Rong also come here today?” Wen Jing asked, his face hopeful as he looked at Liu Ru Yan.

“We came up the mountain together this morning, but we split up for a while. We were supposed to meet at the designated spot, but then we ran into you two on the way,” Liu Ru Yan explained, feeling a little guilty. “I was supposed to be asking for the blessing of the matchmaker for us to stay together forever, and now I’m being asked by Third Master Wen…”

Wen Jing and Wen Zhi exchanged glances upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope appearing in their eyes. With Mu Rong Shu present, they weren’t worried about Yu Er falling ill. They silently communicated and then Wen Jing spoke first.

“Miss Liu, could you take us to the agreed meeting place first? We’ll ask Miss Mu Rong and Miss Song to help search for Yu Er.”

Liu Ru Yan had initially planned to say that she would ask Shu Er and Yan Ran to help search for the child once she found them, but after thinking back to the last time they had shared a meal together, she considered them somewhat familiar and decided it would be easier to go together.

“Alright, Master Wen, Third Master, please follow me. The meeting spot is not far from here,” Liu Ru Yan said, leading the way, with Wen Jing and Wen Zhi following closely behind. Knowing the urgency of the situation, she walked very quickly.

Wen Zhi, for some reason, felt much more at ease upon hearing that Mu Rong Shu was also here. It was as if his worry had been somewhat alleviated.

The Hui Mountain Temple was very secure, and he wasn’t worried about Yu Er being kidnapped. His main concern had been the possibility of his son falling ill. Though he wasn’t the direct heir to the Wen family curse, he understood its torment well. Otherwise, his fourth brother wouldn’t have resorted to suicide.

However, when they arrived at the meeting spot, all of them were left utterly stunned.